English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Bretby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bretby

Historical Forms

  • Bretbi 1086 DB
  • Bretby c.1232 DbCh 1393 Cor 1400 Pat 1401 Fine 1448 AddCh
  • Bret(t)ebi, Bret(t)eby c.1150 Werb 1166 P 1202 FF 1228 Ch 1228 StoweCh 1236,1243 Fees 1403 Cl
  • Bretthebi c.1189 DbAnsvi
  • Britteby 1347 Pat
  • Bratbye, Bratbie 1552 DKR 1577 DbAi 1577 Saxton 1610 Speed

Etymology

'Farm of the Britons', v. Brettas , Bretar , . These were probably Britons who accompanied the Scandinavians in their settlements; cf. Birkby (PN NRY 211).